Students, The 3 Types of CLUTTER (and what to do about it) 🤪

Students, parents, teachers—what are the three types of clutter? Why should you even care, and what can you do about it?

What is up? My name is Seth Perler, and I am an executive function coach. I wear a lot of hats in the executive function world, and I help struggling students navigate this thing called education so they can have a fantastic life and a great future.

In this executive function, ADHD, and neurodiverse world, one thing many of my students have in common is clutter. Myself included—I absolutely struggled with clutter. Over time, I’ve made many changes, and today I’m going to explain why clutter matters, what the three types are, and what you can do about it.

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First, why does clutter matter?

I want you to think of clutter as anything that takes up space in your life that you don’t want it to. When I start talking to students about decluttering, the most common response is, “I don’t feel like dealing with it right now—I’ll deal with it later.” But what happens is the clutter keeps building.

There’s a concept called opportunity cost. It’s a business term, but it applies here. Clutter costs you something—it costs you opportunities. Anything in your life takes away space and attention from something else.

For example, I used to play a lot of video games. At some point, I realized the opportunity cost was that I wasn’t doing anything meaningful with my time. After spending hours on a game that added no value to my life, I decided I was done—and I haven’t gone back since.

You can spend money, but you can also spend attention. Think about the phrase “pay attention”—why the word pay? Because it has a cost. We want to invest our attention in things that matter.

For me, video games were costing me time, energy, and focus without giving anything back. That’s a form of clutter—and specifically, I consider it mental clutter.

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So, what are the three types of clutter?

We’re going to talk about physical clutter, digital clutter, and mental (or emotional) clutter.

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Let’s start with physical clutter.

This is the most obvious type—piles of stuff. Old clothes, books, toys, items stuffed in lockers, desks, drawers—things you don’t need, don’t value, and that don’t improve your life. They just sit there, taking up space and collecting dust.

That’s physical clutter.

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Next is digital clutter.

For many of my students, this shows up in email. Some have thousands of emails, are subscribed to countless lists, and rarely open most of them. Their inbox is full of things they don’t care about.

But digital clutter goes beyond email. It includes things like social media, apps, and even video games. I deleted most of my social media accounts because I didn’t want that clutter taking up space in my life.

Digital clutter drains your time, energy, and attention—often without you realizing it.

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The third type is mental or emotional clutter.

These are the things that take up space in your mind—worries, stress, unresolved emotions, difficult relationships, or thoughts that keep you up at night.

This could include people who are no longer good influences in your life, or situations that bring anxiety, sadness, or frustration. It’s not something you can physically see, but it has a powerful impact on your life.

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Now, what can you do about all of this?

Let’s go back to physical clutter.

One of the best ways to start is by making a list. Divide it into two categories: clutter by space and clutter by category.

Spaces might include drawers, closets, cabinets, or your desk. Categories might include clothes, books, toys, or sports equipment.

Make a list of everything, then start small—tackle one or two items per week. Over time, you’ll make real progress.

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For digital clutter, take a similar approach.

Set aside time each week to clean things up. Unsubscribe from emails you don’t read. Delete old files, photos, and documents you don’t need. Clear out your inbox.

Just chip away at it consistently, and it will become manageable.

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Mental and emotional clutter is different.

You can’t just “delete” it or “get over it,” even though people often say that. Instead, you need to process it.

Talk to someone you trust—a parent, teacher, therapist, or friend. Journal. Meditate. Give yourself time and space to work through your thoughts and emotions.

This type of clutter requires patience and support, but it can be addressed.

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If you’re someone who struggles with clutter—whether physical, digital, or emotional—and it’s getting in the way of your life, I want you to know this:

There is so much hope.

Don’t give up. Find the people and tools that can support you, and you *will* find a way through it.

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As I said, my name is Seth Perler. You can check out my website at sethperler.com, where I have lots of free resources for parents and teachers. I also host the Executive Function Summit at executivefunctionsummit.com, where I feature amazing experts each year.

If you found this helpful, give it a like, subscribe, and leave a comment. I’d love to hear your insights—what works for you when it comes to clutter? Are there other types of clutter you’ve noticed?

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With that, I want to wish you peace of mind, peace in your heart, joy, and connection with the people you care about.

Take care.